TWMCC Holds "Cultural Identity of Muslim Communities in East Africa" Online Lecture
- 2025-Oct-14
The World Muslim Communities Council (TWMCC) held an online lecture, titled "Cultural Identity of Muslim Communities in East Africa," presented by Dr Kadara Sawaleh, Research Fellow at Leibniz Centre for Modern Near Eastern Studies in Germany.
During the lecture, Sawaleh reviewed the paths of Islam’s spread in East Africa, noting that it reached Kenya and Tanzania through Yemeni traders who traveled along the maritime trade routes of the Indian Ocean.
He explained that the arrival of Islam in East Africa was a significant historical event in the region, as Muslims at the time contributed to the spread of the Arabic language by teaching the Holy Qur’an in schools.
Sawaleh also pointed out that Muslims in East Africa enjoy the freedom to practice their religious rituals and adhere to Islamic costumes, noting that the region has witnessed a wide spread of Arab restaurants; a reflection of the deep cultural influence of the Muslim community there.
He affirmed that the Swahili language has been greatly influenced by Islam, incorporating many Arabic words such as ashrini (twenty), thalathini (thirty), arba‘ini (forty), and khamsini (fifty).
Concluding, Sawaleh noted that peaceful coexistence between Muslims and Christians is one of the defining features of East African countries, where relations are characterised by friendliness and mutual respect.
